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Excl: Webbe & Lansman ‘we will serve full 2-year NEC terms’

Momentum founder Jon Lansman and NEC member Claudia Webbe are among the nine candidates for Labour’s National Executive Committee (NEC) on the ‘grassroots left’ ‘slate’ – the nine candidates endorsed by the broad left for this summer’s vital NEC elections, to ensure that Jeremy Corbyn’s vision for the Labour party and movement receives full support from all NEC members elected by the Labour membership.

Concerns have been raised among some Labour members about both candidates’ intention to serve out a full two-year term on the NEC after Lansman made an early move for the Labour Party General Secretary’s position before stepping down, while Webbe stood for selection as Labour’s parliamentary candidate for the Lewisham East by-election.

But the SKWAWKBOX can reveal that both candidates have made a personal commitment to serve the full term if elected.

Ms Webbe told the SKWAWKBOX this evening:

Lewisham East was a strategic move to create a credible all-left, all-BAME shortlist. I was at my own count in the council elections in Islington when I got the call – a week is a long time in politics!

Jon Lansman said:

It was actually me at CLPD (Campaign for Labour Party Democracy) who proposed that a commitment to serve the full two years should be a requirement for candidates on the slate for this election. In any case, I am personally committed to serving the full term.

This commitment is important because, if the full left slate is successful in the summer’s NEC elections, the early departure of any member of the slate will result in a de facto walk-over into the vacant seat for whichever losing candidate – almost certainly in that scenario Ann Black, who has a chequered NEC history, or a member of the right-wing Progress/Labour Firstslate – scores most highly.

The personal commitment of Claudia Webbe and Jon Lansman to serve a full term frees every left member to support the full left slate – and every member who understands the importance of NEC solidarity over the next two years must do so.

Constituency Labour parties can nominate their preferred nine candidates up to 22 June. Individual member ballots will be sent out shortly thereafter.

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“the early departure of any member of the slate will result in a de facto walk-over into the vacant seat for whichever losing candidate ”

This ridiculous undemocratic rule should be repealed. If someone resigns from the NEC the only fair and democratic thing to do is to have a by-election. Is there any chance of striking out this stupid rule at this years conference?

Anne Black is still considered as left so she has quite a lot of support and Blairites will vote for her too to keep off one of the Momentum backed candidates. It will be interesting to see how she votes during her time and whether Corbyn can increase his close majority